Configuring System Units Using On-Board Class Information

1. A method of automatic configuration of a unit forming a component of an apparatus, the method comprising: a) accessing class information held in the unit on insertion of the unit into the apparatus prior to integrating the unit functionally in the apparatus, said class information representing an object class for the unit; b) using the accessed class information to reference, in storage in the apparatus separate from the unit, object definitions for the class of unit, which object definitions include initialization code operable on receipt of the accessed class information to produce configuration information operable to produce object configuration statements for the unit, that comprise at least one of the following: the object class for the unit; an object instance number; an attribute name; and a value for the attribute; and c) verifying the validity of the configuration information and, when the configuration information is valid, storing the configuration information in a configuration file for the apparatus including a location of the unit in the apparatus to enable functional integration of the unit in the apparatus.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising accessing the unit when the unit is functionally integrated in the apparatus for further configuration data held therein.

3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the further configuration data comprises a device object class and device object attributes for a device of the unit.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the class information is held in non-volatile memory in the unit.

5. The method of claim 1 for configuring a plurality of units for a configuration management system, wherein the class information identifies at least one configuration management system class for the unit.

6. The method of claim 1 , said apparatus having a plurality of locations for receiving a said unit and wherein the method comprises probing each said location in the apparatus for class information held in a unit at that location.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein, in step (c), a set of object configuration statements for respective units are stored in the configuration file.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the unit is a field replaceable unit.

9. Apparatus comprising: a plurality of units that each include unit storage for holding class information for the unit that represents an object class for the unit; and a configuration mechanism operable to: a) access class information held in the unit on insertion of the unit into the apparatus prior to integrating the unit functionally in the apparatus, said class information representing an object class for the unit; b) use the accessed class information to reference, in storage in the apparatus separate from the unit, object definitions for the class of unit, which object definitions include initialization code operable on receipt of the accessed class information to produce object configuration statements for the unit, that comprise at least one of the following: the object class for the unit; an object instance number; an attribute name; and a value for the attribute; and c) verify the validity of the configuration information and, when the configuration information is valid, store the configuration information in a configuration file for the apparatus including a location of the unit in the apparatus to enable functional integration of the unit in the apparatus.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the unit storage comprises non-volatile memory.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the non-volatile memory is an EEPROM.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the configuration mechanism is responsive to derived configuration information to verify the validity of the configuration information prior to storage thereof in the system storage.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the configuration mechanism is part of a configuration management system and the class information identifies at least one configuration management system class for the unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , comprising a chassis for a plurality of units locatable within the chassis.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 , wherein the configuration mechanism probes each location in the apparatus for receiving a said unit for accessing class information held in a said unit at that location.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 , comprising a configuration file in system storage for persistent storage of a set of object configuration statements for respective units.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein a said unit is a field replaceable unit.

18. The apparatus of claim 9 , forming a computer system.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 , wherein the computer system is a fault-tolerant computer system.

20. A configuration management system operable on apparatus that includes a plurality of units that each have unit storage for holding class information that represents an object class for the unit, the configuration management system comprising an initialization component configured to: a) access class information held in the unit on insertion of the unit into the apparatus prior to integrating the unit functionally in the apparatus, said class information representing an object class for the unit; b) use the accessed class information to reference, in storage in the apparatus separate from the unit, object definitions for the class of unit, which object definitions include initialization code operable on receipt of the accessed class information to produce object configuration statements for the unit, that comprise at least one of the following: the object class for the unit; an object instance number; an attribute name; and a value for the attribute; and c) verify the validity of the configuration information and, when the configuration information is valid, store the configuration information in a configuration file for the apparatus including a location of the unit in the apparatus to enable functional integration of the unit in the apparatus.

21. The configuration management system of claim 20 , wherein the initialization component is configured to probe each location in the apparatus for receiving a unit and, when a location is occupied by a unit, to read class information from storage in the unit.

22. The configuration management system of claim 20 , wherein the initialization component is configured to access class information from a unit on insertion of the unit into the apparatus and to generate object definitions for the unit prior to functional integration of the unit.

23. A carrier medium carrying program means embodying a configuration management operable on apparatus that includes a plurality of units that each have unit storage for holding class information that represents an object class for the unit, the configuration management system comprising an initialization component configured to: a) access class information held in the unit on insertion of the unit into the apparatus prior to integrating the unit functionally in the apparatus, said class information representing an object class for the unit; b) use the accessed class information to reference, in storage in the apparatus separate from the unit, object definitions for the class of unit, which object definitions include initialization code operable on receipt of the accessed class information to produce object configuration statements for the unit, that comprise at least one of the following: the object class for the unit; an object instance number; an attribute name; and a value for the attribute; and c) verify the validity of the configuration information and, when the configuration information is valid, store the configuration information in a configuration file for the apparatus including a location of the unit in the apparatus to enable functional integration of the unit in the apparatus.

24. The carrier medium of claim 23 , wherein the storage is operable to record status information relating to system operation for providing an operating history for the unit.